Berets, Anyone?

[foamy]

Hi Daan,
Looks like the beret has many uses, versatile headware , reality shield, weather protection, fashion statement and healing properties.
I will wear my black auloronesa post surgery.

One of the best posts I've ever read.

 

[Nico]

Dang, sorry to hear about your knee. This getting older busines ain't for sissys. On the other hand, you look good in that red beret. Is that the rust?

Hi foamy.
Yes it is the rust red universal 10 pouces .

 

[Daan]

Berets are still great, next to the classic-flatcaps. All best wishes, gents!

But, are there really universal berets around, with additional water-repellent facilities, like on both of my flatcaps (one classic impregnated, one Sympatex)?

In principal, a well made beret doesn't need additional chemicals to make it water resistant (or impermeable, as most labels state). This is one of the strongest selling points for the berets under the Auloronesa and Aotearoa labels: made of nothing but pure merino wool (plus dye) with the only additive natural soap (savon de Marseille; olive oil based soap that gives these berets their distinctive smell). The density of the wool in combination with the long felting process guarantee a practically waterproof fabric without the need for any added chemicals.
Boinas Elósegui does things differently and treats it's wool with Teflon as an extra water repellent. Opinions vary on this; personally I am not bothered by Teflon, although I see no need whatsoever for the use of it - especially since the top models of Boinas Elósegui are already made of a densely knitted wool. There are customers who stay away from the Spanish berets for the very reason that they are Teflon treated...
Laulhère treats its top quality berets as well, but what the substance is remains secret.

The word impermeable, or waterproof, is not true in the literal sense of the word. Any beret, chemically treated or not, will eventually leak through when exposed to heavy prolonged rainfall, but that may only be a concern when going on multiple day hikes through the rainforest...
Typically, berets were used by the shepherds in the high Pyrenees to carry water for coffee to their cabanes (huts), it being the most practical bucket at hand!

 

[leftyguy]

Got any nice pink berets Daan?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/36352671

 

[Daan]

Got any nice pink berets Daan?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/36352671

Nice one, Leftyguy - good message too by Eddie Izard (not just regarding the beret).
But, sticking to the pink beret: yes I do have some nice pinks! May not surprise you that these aren't my best selling berets, but especially the cotton boina Tolosa Tupida is actually a fairly popular beret, mainly going to Australia, Hawaii and Israel.

And yes, I have one myself - good summer wear.

 

[foamy]

Rained all weekend and I was out and about in most of it. Saturday was fairly heavy rain and since I was going to be in it for a while (several hours) the Aotearoa/Aurolonesa Alpin got the call. Sheds rain effortlessly as does the Aotearoa 310 which was my choice in the lighter rain Sunday and today. Great foul weather berets or, I should say, just plain 'ol great berets. Period. I'm really liking the size of the 310. It shapes well.

 

[Daan]

National Geographic video with many berets, or boinas, on Chilean gauchos. Enduring harsh winds and weather, encounters with wild bulls, and a lack of electricity, photographer Tomás Munita trekked through Chilean Patagonia.
Through his photographs he tells the story of a family that is losing its ancestral land to agritourism.

Nicely coincides with this weeks SPECIAL: Boinas Castilla from Uruguay.
Boinas Castilla are the genuine gaucho gear: berets in pure Uruguayan grown merino wool or 100% cotton. All are in a universal size - no worries about sizing and very, very comfortable to wear. In cotton the ideal summer wear, light and breathable, while the berets in merino wool are perfect for in-between seasons.

Only this week, or as long as the stock lasts, with a 20% discount at $42.00!

 

[Dreamofgilgamesh]

Dear beret wearers, a question for you from a would be beret wearer.
I often wear a fedora with a leather headband which was a wee bit large when bought so I simply packed a strip or two of felt behind it for a perfect fit. I also wear a flat cap for work which has no leather headband.
So, what's the pros and cons of leather headbands in berets? It seems that if it's to big you can't pack out out due to the design. If it was a tad small can the beret be stretched to fit?
Any thoughts chaps?

 

[foamy]

Dear beret wearers, a question for you from a would be beret wearer.
I often wear a fedora with a leather headband which was a wee bit large when bought so I simply packed a strip or two of felt behind it for a perfect fit. I also wear a flat cap for work which has no leather headband.
So, what's the pros and cons of leather headbands in berets? It seems that if it's to big you can't pack out out due to the design. If it was a tad small can the beret be stretched to fit?
Any thoughts chaps?

My experience with leather sweatbands in berets is limited to one. My first quality beret was a Hoquy/Laulhere in a size 58. Fit perfectly when I got it, but promptly shrunk after wearing it. I bought a wooden hat stretcher to get it back to size and it has to be stretched between wearings. Also, when new, the stitching irritated my forehead and was sharp and uncomfortable. That part is no longer a problem as it has conformed nicely, but having purchased non-sweatband berets, I have little inclination to go there again (though, I'm tempted from time to time). I like the Hoquy, the leather sweat provides a feel that the others don't have, but the hat stetcher lives in it when it's not being worn. If it is a beret that you are going to wear daily, then you (I speculate) may have a break-in period and smooth sailing there after, but I cannot say with any certainty. Perhaps someone else with sweatband berets will chime in. I'm not disparaging sweatbands, but I'd buy a stretcher to go with it, as a bit of insurance. They are kind of nice—at least mine is, once broken-in.

 

[RJR]

I have several of each type and find I prefer the ones with no sweatband.I think they conform better/quicker and seem cooler.

 

[Dreamofgilgamesh]

That makes sense, thanks for your advice.

 

[Daan]

Dear beret wearers, a question for you from a would be beret wearer.
I often wear a fedora with a leather headband which was a wee bit large when bought so I simply packed a strip or two of felt behind it for a perfect fit. I also wear a flat cap for work which has no leather headband.
So, what's the pros and cons of leather headbands in berets? It seems that if it's to big you can't pack out out due to the design. If it was a tad small can the beret be stretched to fit?
Any thoughts chaps?

I can only agree with the 2 previous responses. Headbands in berets tend to be quite rigid, made of a firm inflexible leather and there is a good reason for that: the headband maintains the size of the woolen rim, that would otherwise shrink over time. The only exception are the bérets garnis cuir by Boneteria Auloronesa (due to a different -secret- knitting technique, the manufacturer managed to reduce the shrinking to an absolute minimum). These berets are fitted with a very soft and supple leather band (the same leather as used for upholstery of luxurious French cars).

Many leather bands harden up further and start cracking over time (have a look on Ebay at 'vintage berets' and you'll see what I mean).

Meanwhile, a headband-less beret is -once broken in- always the right size, leaves no sweaty imprint on the forehead and is easy to roll or fold up to fit in your pocket.
The original berets, as made and worn by the Pyrenean shepherds and originally by the Chasseurs Alpins, had no headband - these only started to appear during the Industrial revolution and the mechanisation of the beret manufacturing process.

But, in the end it comes down to personal preference; some hate headbands, others love the solid feel of a headband around the head.

 

[NoHorse]

Dreamofgilgamesh,

I had a 'headbanded' beret once, and as it shrank and stiffened I ended up not wearing it. (Early days - I didn't know about hat stretchers then).

However, one of the great advantages of a rimless (or a military style) beret is that it can be rolled up and stuffed into a pocket. You can regulate your temperature (and how dry your pate is) with ease.

I was unsure of how the woollen edge would feel, yet now that I wear such beret daily I no longer give it a thought. Some time ago I posted pictures of how the edge is constructed - you'll find them in this forum.

 

[RJR]

The ability to roll/stuff is important to me plus I find rimless much more comfortable.

 

[Nico]

Its a personal choice.
My preference is the headband -less beret.
Comfortable for extended wearing and easy to stuff it in your pocket.

 

[Nico]

Wearing my Bosco Francia with my fashionable Hi Viz workwear for the first day of winter.

 

[Daan]

Wearing my Bosco Francia with my fashionable Hi Viz workwear for the first day of winter.

Ha, nice contrast in colours. Stay warm (got the woodfire roaring this cold, wet and windy Wellington morning).

 

[Nico]

Ha, nice contrast in colours. Stay warm (got the woodfire roaring this cold, wet and windy Wellington morning).

Go Daan, rub it in.

 

[Nico]

Something that may interest our friends in this forum. Wearing a beret does not cause any interference with my hearing aids. No idea why but thankful.
Have a good day everyone. Back to the grind.

 

[Daan]

After many months of correspondence and sending/returning samples between the Czech Republic and New Zealand, I received the final samples this morning for the 32cm diameter Faldina berets! Definately custom made (the longest process of getting to perfection in my personal history of being a bonetaire), by one of the world's oldest hat manufacturers: FEZCO-TONAK (since 1799).

The 125gram Faldina won't be available until later this year (August is the aim, possibly September), but there are two for sale at present at the One-Offs Page of South Pacific Berets, along with some "Floxan" and "Flora" models - similar berets in a lighter (95grams) weight. I instantly took a real liking for my own red Faldina.

Not much available as far as videos of the production process goes, but I did find this old film of FEZO-TONAK's production plant from somewhere in the dark times of the CSSR. No berets unfortunately, but still great material to watch.